Category Archives: Divafish Communications

The theme my site was using had a security hole – which ended up getting the site taken down. So, please hang in there while I get things back up and running. If you have any questions about current programs or coaching, email or call me directly and I’d be happy to chat with you.

Marketing your business is multi-faceted and can be overwhelming to stay on top of. This 10 week program will walk you through different areas of marketing your business and help you focus on the areas that matter most: ones that create sales opportunities. This is geared for DIY marketing with tips on how to implement low cost strategies into your business.

9 Structures for Business Presentations

See that cursor blinking in the corner of your screen… staring at you as you sit down to craft your speech? And I say craft because giving a great speech is more than slapping a few buy levitra online thoughts together. The same content can be presented in different structures and may have completely different impacts on your audience.

Here are a 9 ideas on how to structure your speech:

1. The Sandwich: Opening, body and conclusion

This is the simplest structure (after not having one at all). More complex structures are a variation on this one. The opening thought needs to engage your audience and also introduce your topic. The middle section expands on the ideas or presents a solution and then the conclusion wraps everything up.

2. Story/Parable

Tell an engaging story that illustrates the topic and wrap up with the moral or objective.

3. Stepping Stones:

Make a point, give an example, build your next point, give another example, make another point, give another example. The beauty of this structure is that you are building one idea on another using narrative, which is a powerful memory hook.

4. Acronym:

Use an acronym to mark the points in your speech. “The secret weapon to giving a great speech is using PIE: Passion, Interesting Visuals and Entertaining stories.”

5. Problem – Solution:

Identify and analyze a problem and then propose a solution. Describe the problem as the introduction in a way that engages your audience with the pain points of the situation. Then use the solution as the body of the speech, expanding on why your position solves the problem. This is a highly effective sales structure for a persuasive speech.

6. Problem – Cause – Solution:

Similar to the above, adding an understanding of what caused the problem in the first place.

7. Pros & Cons:

Organize points by arguments for and against something. This is a more balanced approach and good for educating, not necessarily persuading.

8. 2 options:

Similar to the Pros & Cons approach, this structure describes 2 options available and compares them. This can be an effective tool to educate as well as persuade about a proposed option.

9. Metaphor

This is one of the most powerful structures for speechcraft. A well chosen metaphor will engage your audience and allow them to see aspects of the topic in a new way. Expand on aspects of the metaphor in the body of your speech, building to a conclusion that connects the metaphor back to the topic. “Getting over my fear of public speaking was as tough as climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro. In order to do this, I had to have the right tools, an expert guide and the determination to keep climbing, no matter how low my oxygen got. The tools for climbing are… the tools for getting over my fear of public speaking are… A sherpa is an expert of the mountain who knows what the pitfalls are, how to get there faster and in one piece. My public speaking trainer….”

As you listen to other speeches, notice what kind of structure they use. What has the biggest impact on you? What has an impact on the audience?

Have some fun trying out these different speech structures and let me know how it goes.

Would you like to give business presentations with more confidence? Or just work up the nerve to talk about your business with other people? This course is designed just for you!

Over 8 weeks, you will give 6 prepared presentations, impromptu talks and work on your 60 second introduction. You will get immediate feedback from your co-speakers in training as well as 2 facilitators.

John Nieuwenburg and I want you to be successful in giving business presentations. Find out more info here: http://divafish.com/workshops/

As a certified Life Coach for Entrepreneurs, I am often asked, “What is the difference between a life coach and business coach?” There is some confusion within my profession about this so it is no wonder other people aren’t really sure. Here is how I describe the differences.

At a very basic level, a life coach is working with an individual on their whole life. A business coach is working with an individual, group or organization on the business. Some of the coaching skill sets like listening, intuition, accountability, challenging and active listening might be the same. I see a major difference in tools. Business coaches will often be more focused on strategic planning, expenses, work flow, operations management, financials and performance.

A great way to understand this is to ask, “Who will be the client? Is it the individual or the business?” Often, in a business coaching relationship, it is a B2B relationship between the business and the coach – and the coach may be brought in to work with a business leader, manager, team or multiple parties. There will be an agreement around the level of transparency and confidentiality of the work and with who and what will be shared.

Life coaches are present for whatever aspect of life the client wishes to work on. The client is the individual (a B2C relationship). I always tell my clients that there are no taboo or off limit topics for me. It is up to them where they would like to spend their coaching time focused on. As many of my clients are business owners, often current challenges or situations in their work environments come up. Rather than problem solving and planning our way out of it, our coaching work looks at what values are being crossed, what do they want from the situation, where do they see themselves on the other side of this challenge and who they have to be in order to get there.

I am really pleased to announce our next set of workshops based on the DISC behavioural profile in August and September.

Communicate with Style: DiSC Basics

This 3 hour workshop introduces the DiSC profile of four behavioural styles to help you understand your personal style and awareness of other styles.

Dates: August 22nd or September 20th, 6:30 – 9:30 pm

Benefits of this workshop:

Understand the 4 basic behavioural styles (DiSC)

Have a clear understanding of your personal style

Learn about what issues are important to you in communication

Have a strategy to interact more effectively

Build Powerful Networking Relationships with Advanced DiSC

Date: September 29th, 10:00 am – 4:30 pm

You will learn how to use the DiSC profile to identify the behavioral style of people you meet and dramatically increase your communication effectiveness. Included is a personalized assessment and report of your personal style (value $50).

This is ideal for networkers, sales people and teams, business owners and entrepreneurs who depend on the ability to connect with people they meet to open relationship doors and close sales. It will change the way you approach clients and tailor your style to give them the best environment possible.

Our April workshops had great feedback and more importantly, impact on how people understand themselves and each other. Our May workshops are now open for registration.

Communicate with Style: DISC Basics is all about YOU! Learn about your own behavioural style, strengths and struggles and get some practical tips on how to adapt what isn’t working for you about your style.

Building Sales Relationships with Advanced DISC is all about connecting with prospects and clients. You will learn how to recognize your buyer’s profile, what works best for them while harnessing the innate strengths of your own style.

Here’s more info and how to register: http://divafish.com/events-workshops/ ‎

I went to Anne’s workshop last week with my daughter. It was a great opportunity to open the communication channels and for both of us to get some insight into one another’s behaviours and personality traits.

Anne and Darrell are a great team they are dynamic and engaging and as I learned can related to every one in the group.

If you are looking to energize your work or family communication this seminar is great way for you to kick start the process.

Anne is a passionate presenter – full of energy and enthusiasm while at the same time being fully focused on the needs of the audience. I recently attended Anne’s evening seminar on DiSC Basics – Communicate with Style and took away many actionable and practical tools for my professional and personal life.